Page 27 of Believing Bailey (Granton University 2)

“I don’t…” I shook my head. “I don’t know.” After they’d seen my video, I would think so, yes, but no one said so one way or another. I opened my mouth to tell Tess that, but then I realized she didn’t know about the video. Because I hadn’t known about it the last time I’d seen her. I couldn’t admit that part. Even taking a picture of what I’d seen was humiliating enough, but actually having a video of it? No. Sweet innocent Tess didn’t need to know that part.

Okay, fine her sweet innocence had nothing to do with it. I just didn’t want her knowing how truly depraved I was.

So I stuck with, “I don’t know what happened to him, and it’s driving me crazy.”

“Well.” Tess nodded thoughtfully before saying, “You’re Bailey; you’re not afraid to find this stuff out. And you know which fraternity house he lives in, so…”

Holy geez, she was right. I whipped the blanket off me and accidently sent the bag of Doritos flying across the room as I jumped to my feet.

“I’m going over there,” I announced, my big declaration losing some of its bravado with the nacho-flavored corn chips raining down on the floor around us.

Tess blinked at the mess before saying, “I’ll go with you.”

I started to nod—a little excited to do this with her since we’d always gone on such adventures together—until we heard the door open below us and then bang shut before heavy footsteps started up the stairwell. Definitely not the tread of either Paige or Logan, which meant Jonah was home.

My shoulders slumped.

I knew he made Tess blindingly happy and treated her right, but the bastard had stolen my best friend from me. We used to be inseparable and did everything together. Now they were inseparable and did everything together. I honestly couldn’t remember when Tess and I had last gone out on a just-Tess-and-Bailey outing. She didn’t seem to miss them, so I didn’t complain.

Okay, I complained, but it was the teasing kind of complaint that told them I wasn’t the least bit bothered and totally didn’t feel left out, even though I totally was and totally did.

Tess’s entire face brightened when Jonah’s head appeared and then his whole body as he rose from the stairwell and joined us in the front room, and I knew I’d never let her really know how lonely I’d become.

“Nah, I got this one,” I said, though I’m not sure why I even bothered. Tess was no longer paying me any attention; she was too busy throwing her arms around Jonah as he wrapped his arms right back around her and picked her up off her feet to give her a big welcoming smooch.

I sighed and moved past them to the wall full of hooks holding coats and jackets and purses with floor mats under them to house shoes.

After I shoved my feet into a pair of fur-lined ankle boots, I reached for my coat. I’d just shrugged it on and was buttoning it up, when Tess realized I was leaving.

“Oh! Bailey.”

I winced over at her. “Is it okay if I do this one by myself? He only met me the once and doesn’t know you, so…”

“Oh.” She nodded instantly. “Sure. That makes sense. After being accused of what he’s been accused of and spending the last few days in jail, being visited by a stranger might be…” She shook her head, not sure which term to use.

I nodded, totally understanding. There were a lot of things happening these days that needed new terms that probably hadn’t even been invented yet.

“Thanks,” I said. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

Then I grabbed my purse and hurried down the stairs.

I didn’t think about what I was going to say to Beckett once I saw him, not until I actually reached the Alpha Gamma Rho house and was walking up between the white pillars of its front porch.

Holy criminy, what the heck should I say?

Hey, I was just curious what happened to you, so okay, it looks like your free now. I guess I’ll be going. Nice to see you again, bye.

Hmm.

Yeah, I think that needed some work.

I could, uh, well…

The first thing that came to mind was an apology. I mean, I’d spied on the guy having sex. Then I’d waited over twenty-four hours to go to the police for him after I’d discovered he’d been arrested. Oh, and let’s not forget I’d called him stupid multiple times in my head, though he really had been. I hadn’t stopped Melody from going down on him when he’d been too drunk and horny-male to stop her himself.

So, yeah, I was here to say sorry.

Good idea.

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